So I'll keep this short and sweet...
I attended the Chicago premiere of Dirty Dancing the stage show last night. Long story short, I got my friends Tristan and Molly two tickets each to see the show for their birthday. I was not assuming that I would be attending the event when I purchased them, but they were both nice enough to ask me to join, and who am I to say no. Part of me was very excited to see an iconic 80's kitschy movie turned into a Musical...since I am attempting that very thing right now.
Lets just say this exceeded expectations...or did it?
Dear reader, I can not begin to explain what it is I saw on stage last night. My mind is completely reeling from the proposterousness and bizarre spectacle that presented itself on stage last night.
First off I feel its only right to warn perspective attendees to this performance, that Dirty Dancing is in fact not a musical. It is the movie, retold word for word on stage, with bizarre additional scenes, and pre-recorded "oldies" from the film played over top. There are maybe 4 live performances by singers, including "We Shall Overcome" and thankfully "Time of My Life"...and the other thing to note is that not a single main character sings other than Baby's sister...the rest of the singing is apparently handled by a maid or two, and Johnny's cousin.
BAFFLING!!
There are also additional scenes that cover things like the resort owner's grandson Neil, running off with the busboys to become a Freedom Rider. There is also a scene with Baby's Mom and Penny the Preggo Dancer. And a stirring monologue from Baby at the end about how society will never let her and Johnny's love be.
WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON!!!?
I kid you not that by the intermission, Tristan was laughing so hard she was crying....something I have only seen one other time (the other time was when she saw the preview for Beverly Hills Chihuahua). We were so puzzled as to what was happening on stage, and so perplexed at the audience reactions to things that we were all tickled to death.
Be sure to ask one of us about how they did the scene where Johnny teaches Baby how to do the Lift in the lake. OMG OMG OMG! Funniest thing I have ever seen in my entire life.
The whole thing was a completely surreal experience, only made more frustrating by the point that it felt like they originally intended for it to be a legitimate musical, but then decided to just play canned music instead. There were moments where the orchestra would swell up and it sounded like a song was about to happen and then ....nothing!
And the set!
Goodness. They spent a kajillion bucks on the most ridiculous set known to man. It had hydraulics, it had stairs, it had circles that would pop up randomly, it had a spinning center piece that every goddamned character walked on to indicate "movement through camp", it had every set piece known to man including a swimming pool ladder and deck chairs for that all too pivotal pool scene. What pool scene you ask? Oh the pool scene where Neil confronts the busboys about swimming in the perfectly chlorinated Kellerman's Pool. Yes that bonus scene! Again please ask someone about the "lift in the lake" scene.
In short, I have seen a lot of theater and Broadway musicals, and this was by far the most confusing, bizarre, surrealistic, unexplainable experience I have ever had. I have never laughed harder or seen so many Cougars in one place in my life.
I truly did have the time of my life.
Dance with me?
So Dirty. And Dancy. Dirty Dancy.
The Shelldrake Hotel proudly presents: The Rumba!
This is your dance space, this is mine. Lets dance Molly.
Oh what a night. A horribly, wonderful, bizarre night.
